The search is on to find the three caring teenagers who went to the aid of a 14-year-old girl who was injured in a road accident.

The girl was involved in a collision with a car on the corner of Skelmsersdale Road and Station Road, Clacton.

A teacher from Clacton County High School, who does not want to be named, helped to divert the traffic away from the victim, who was lying partly on the road and partly on the pavement.

But, he said, the real heroes were the teenagers - all pupils at Colbayns High School in the town - who comforted the girl in the pouring rain until the ambulance arrived to take her to hospital.

"The girl was quite badly hurt and I was worried that as it was dark and raining she might not be seen by other cars and could be run over," said the teacher.

"The teenagers were all dressed up and obviously on their way out for the night and came over with a mobile phone so that we could call the emergency services.

"They then stayed with the injured youngster, talking to her and comforting her until the ambulance arrived. He said they were reluctant to move the victim in case she had serious back or neck injuries.

The teacher said the 14-year-old had only just moved to Clacton and was not known by any of the teenagers.

"Those three girls were great and they looked after her, keeping her as calm and comfortable as possible given the conditions which were atrocious. They were absolutely saturated at the end," he added.

"It just goes to show that there are caring youngsters about and I would be very proud of them if they were pupils at my school."

The accident happened at 7.10pm on Saturday and the injured girl was taken to Colchester General Hospital.

The teacher contacted colleagues at Colbayns High School but so far they have been unable to trace the girls among their 1,800 pupils.

Nick Pavitt, head at Colbayns, said he hoped the girls would come forward so they could receive the praise they deserved for their unselfish and caring actions.

Published Thursday November 7, 2002

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